Combined book and hat holder.



F-'H; EHRHARDT.

vcowuaum BOOK AND HAT HOLDER.

APPLIFATION FILED MAYIZ, I9I6.

' Patented June 4, 1918.

avwanto F .Fhrimrdt ll'hll COMBINED BOOK Ann HAT HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HERMAN EHRHARDT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Wichita in the county of Sedgwick and State ofKansas, 'have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Book andHat Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined book receptacle and hat or coatrack which is adapted to be secured to the back of a pew, chair or thelike and has for itschief characteristic to provide a device ofthischaracter which is simple and efficient in its construction andwhich may be manufactured at a nominal cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having novel means for detachably supporting clothes upon theback of a seat, the supporting means being so constructed as not tomutilate the apparel in any manner.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a device of thischaracter in which the mounting means for the clothes support is adaptedto assist in supporting the book receptacle.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the specification is readin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which 2- Figure 1 is afront elevation of my device showing the same in applied position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my invention comprises a base plate1 which is adapted to be arranged vertically upon the back of a seat bymeans of screws or other suitable fastening members, the plate beingtapered from its medial portion toward its lower end as at 2. Arrangedupon the outer face of the plate adjacent its upper end is a receptacleor box 3 which is formed of any suitable material and is preferablyrectangular in formation. The receptacle 3 has its forward side wallsformed of vertically extending parallel spaced bars 4 and permittinginspection of the interior of the receptacle. This receptacle 3 isadapted to support or contain books of worship or other articles wherebythe occupants of the pews may have ready access to the same. Secured tothe outer face of the plate 1 at the tapered end thereof and extendingvertically of the same are a pair of parallel spaced partitions 5 whichhave their upper edges engaging Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 12, 1916.

Patented June a, 1918.

Serial No. 97,126.

the under side of the receptacle 3 and there by serve as an additionalsupporting means for the receptacle. Arranged between the partitions 5adjacent their lower end and secured to the base plate 1 is a block 6which has its lower end extending below the ends of the partitions 5 andis bifurcated to provide the parallel extensions 7. It will be notedthat the block is of such a width as to engage the confronting faces ofthe partitions and thus serve to hold the partitions in their properspaced relation. Secured between the parallel extensions 7 of the block6 isa stationary jaw S which is curved throughout its length and has itsupper end disposed forwardly of the block. The upper end of thejaw 8 isof a reduced thick ness to provide a shoulder 9 and is adapted topivotally receive a movable jaw 10. The movable jaw 10 is recessed as at11 to receive the upper end of the stationary jaw 8, the walls of therecess cooperating with the shoulder 9 to limit the rocking movement ofthe movable jaw. The movable jaw 10 extends vertically of the base plate1 and has its upper end disposed between the partitions 5, the latterbeing bifurcated as at 12 to pivotally receive an operating lever 13.Interposed between the base plate 1 and the upper end of the movable jaw10 is a coiled spring 141 which is adapted to exert its tension to forcethe lower ends of the jaws into engagement with each other as will beunderstood.

Connecting the outer vertical edges of the partitions 5 and spanning thespace therebetween is a plate 15 which operates with the partitions 5 toform an inclosure for the upper end of the movable jaw and thus keep aportion of the apparel holding mechanism concealed. As previously statedthe leyer 13 is connected to the bifurcated end 12 of the movable jawand is, adapted to extend through the plate 15 for a suitable distancewhereby upon pressing the lever inwardly against the tension of thespring 1 1, the movable aw 10 will be actuated to move its lower endaway from the stationary The lower end or gripping ends 16 of the jaware substantially rectangular in cross section and have their outer endfaces flattened. Each of the ends 16 are provided with substantiallyU-shaped clips 17 each having the parallel arms thereof secured to theopposite sides of the jaws while the horizontal portion is arranged inspaced relation to the ends to receive teeth 18 formed of rnb ber orother suitable material. These teeth 18 consist of blocks of rubberwhich are preferably rectangular in formation and which have their innerends extending laterally from the inner faces of each of the jaws andare adapted to normally contact with each other.

It will be seen from the foregoing construction that I have providedmeans for holding books or like material within the receptacle 3 whilearranged adjacent thereto and serving as a support for the receptacle isthe inclosure for the clothes rack. By providing a clothes rack of thisdescription I have provided simple means for securely holding hats,coats or the like in a simple and eflicient manner upon the rear of apew and that the gripping jaws are so arranged as to permit the readyinsertion of the ap parel therebetween and securely hold the same whenthe actuating lever 13 is released. In providing the gripping ends 16 ofthe jaws with the rubber blocks or teeth 18, the apparel may be securelyheld but owing to the slight flexibility of the rubber, the clothes willnot be injured or torn in any way while hanging between the aws.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art without furtherdescription, and

that minor changes in size, shape, proportion and minor details ofconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claim.

What I claim, is;

A device of the character described com prising a vertical base plate,side plates and a top plate secured thereto and forming a rectangularcasing open at its lower end, a front plate secured onsaid side platesand terminating short of the bottom edges thereof, a block secured upon,said base plate within said casing engaging said side plates andextending below the open end of the casing, a forwardly extendingbracket secured within a bifurcation in said block and having itsforward end partially cut away, a vertically disposed lever having itsintermediate portion partially cut away and pivoted upon the forward endof said bracket and alining therewith, a spring urging the upper end ofsaid lever outwardly, a plunger rod pivoted upon the upper end of saidlever and extending forwardly through a slot in the upper portion ofsaid front plate, and resilient jaws secured upon the lower ends of saidblock and said lever and cooperating with each other in grippingrelation, pressure on said plunger releasing the engagement of saidjaws.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK HERMAN EHRHARDT.

copies of thia patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patenta,

Washington, I). 0.

